Work

Rules and Exceptions: Sialic Acid Variants and Their Role in Determining Viral Tropism

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: Sialic acids decorate the surfaces of most mammalian cells and are used by many viruses as attachment receptors. In contrast to other mammals, humans cannot synthesize a version of sialic acid known as N-glycolyl neuraminic acid. This difference is exploited by some viruses to establish tropism. Here we compare recently determined structures of closely related animal and human polyomaviruses and examine their strategies for engaging specific sialic acid variants.

Source: Journal of Virology

DOI: 10.1128/jvi.03683-13

Authors: Thilo Stehle, Zaigham M. Khan

Institutions: Vanderbilt University, University of Tübingen

Language: English

Topic: Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft